Albany Police Department

Detective Douglas H. Mayville - Albany Police Department

End of Watch: Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Detective Douglas Mayville died as the result of long term chemical exposure.

He was exposed to toxic chemicals while working in the department's forensic lab. He medically retired in 1997 as a result of the exposure and his condition continued to worsen until he passed away on April 4th, 2014.

Detective Mayville had served with the Albany Police Department for 26 years. He is survived by his wife.

Lieutenant John F. Finn - Albany Police Department

End of Watch: Thursday, February 12, 2004

Lieutenant John Finn succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 6 weeks earlier during
a foot chase of a robbery suspect.

During the chase, the suspect turned around and opened fire, striking Lieutenant
Finn three times. One of the rounds was stopped by his vest, one struck him
in the leg, and the third entered his torso between two panels of the vest.
The officer was able to return fire and struck the suspect in the chest several
times, wounding him. Lieutenant Finn was transported to Albany Medical Center
Hospital where he remained in critical condition until his death 6 weeks later.

The suspect was originally charged with attempted murder, but will face revised
charges as a result of Lieutenant Finn's death.

The killer pleaded guilty to a 10-count indictment, including two counts of
first degree murder. On August 18th, 2004, he was sentenced to life in prison
with no possibility of parole.

Lieutenant Finn had served with the Albany Police Department for 13 years.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Police Officer Guy J. Barringer - Albany Police Department

End of Watch: Friday, April 10, 1987

Officer Barringer suffered a fatal heart attack after he became involved in a car chase, which turned into a foot chase. Officer Barringer struggled with the suspect and later died at home of a heart attack attributed to the pursuit. Officer Barringer had been with the agency for 12 years and was survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons.

Sergeant Michael F. McNeil, Jr. - Albany Police Department

End of Watch: Monday, November 29, 1971

Sergeant Michael McNeil was shot and killed while questioning a member of a motorcycle
gang. Sergeant McNeil was driving a police matron home when he witnessed a car
travel through a red light. The vehicle matched the description of a car used
in an armed robbery in the next town.

After stopping the vehicle, Sergeant McNeil noticed a discrepancy with the
registration so he ordered the occupants of the car to follow him back to his
station. He brought the driver inside to question him. When he went back outside
to question the passengers he found they had escaped.

Sergeant McNeil called for back up and started to search for the remaining
occupants of the car. He found one of the suspects on Chestnut Street and he
ordered him into the patrol car. As Sergeant McNeil got back into the patrol
car, the suspect shot him twice, killing him instantly.

The suspect escaped but was captured later in the morning in a neighboring
city. The suspect was out on $50,000 bail for an assault in Connecticut and
was also wanted for a separate murder. He was convicted of Sergeant McNeil\'s
murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He died in prison while
serving the sentence.

Sergeant McNeil had served with the agency for 14 years. He was survived by
his wife, daughter, three sons and two brothers. One of brothers also served
as an Albany police officer.

Police Officer Edward C. Stevens - Albany Police Department

Officer Stevens and two other officers responded to assist an ambulance crew
who was attempting to transport the suspect to a psychiatric hospital. The suspect
refused to cooperate with the ambulance crew and the officers and returned to
her apartment and closed the door. One of the ambulance crew was able to look
into the suspect’s apartment and saw her point a rifle at the door.

The officers attempted to move away from the door but the suspect fired her
rifle. The bullet grazed one of the assisting officers in the back of the head
and struck Officer Stevens in the neck. Officer Stevens was transported to a
local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds later in the afternoon.

The suspect surrendered to the police and she was charged in the murder of Officer
Stevens. The suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Police Officer Stevens served seven years with the Albany Police Department
and is survived by his wife and son.

Sergeant Thomas P. McAvoy - Albany Police Department

End of Watch: Tuesday, January 28, 1964

Sergeant McAvoy was shot and killed after responding to a push in robbery.

When Sergeant McAvoy arrived a citizen informed him that a man was inside the
house with a shotgun and there was a woman and children being held hostage.
Sergeant McAvoy left his revolver holstered and entered the house with only
a flashlight in hand so not to endanger the children. When Sergeant McAvoy entered
the house the suspect grabbed him sat him in a kitchen chair in front of the
kids, and shot him in the chest with a shotgun. The suspect then kicked Sgt.
McAvoy, stole the officer\'s badge, identification and revolver, shot the officer
again in the chest, then picked up both spent shotgun shells.

A back-up officer arrived and the kids motioned with their heads for the back-up
officer not to enter the house. As the back-up summoned assistance from the
police radio in his unit, the suspect escaped through the rear yards to his
car parked at State Street and North Pine Street. The massive ensuing manhunt
failed to capture the suspect.

The suspect’s car struck a truck in Chicago in February of 1964 and was
brought to the hospital and was subsequently arrested by the FBI for the murder
of Sergeant McAvoy. A search of the suspect’s car revealed sergeant McAvoy\'s
revolver beneath the driver\'s seat. The suspect later died in prison.

Sergeant McAvoy had been with the agency for 15 years and was survived by his
wife and two sons.

Police Officer Samuel B. Robinson - Albany Police Department

End of Watch: Monday, May 13, 1957

Police Officer Samuel Robinson was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a call. Officer Robinson and his partner were responding to a domestic disturbance when they were struck by another vehicle at Madison and South Lake Avenues. After colliding with the vehicle, the patrol car struck a tree head on, throwing Officer Robinson out of the car. Officer Robinson was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries shortly thereafter.

Officer Robinson is survived by his wife, two sons, parents and a brother.

Police Officer Francis V. Keys - Albany Police Department

End of Watch: Friday, April 24, 1936

Officer Keys was wounded when he stopped two young men on a motorcycle who
went through a red light. The 17-year-old driver gave a fictitious name and
could produce neither his driver\'s license nor registration for the motorcycle.
Another officer stayed with the motorcycle and sent Officer Keyes, with the
two men, to the 5th Precinct located on Central Avenue near North Lake Avenue.

At Central Avenue and Quail, one suspect stuck a .32-cal pistol in Officer Keyes\'
ribs and ordered the officer to drive past the patrol car and told his accomplice
to take the officer\'s gun. The second suspect, however, fled. Officer Keyes
then exited the car and struggled with the first suspect. The suspect shot Officer
Keyes in the right chest and fled. Officer Keyes returned fire, emptying his
revolver at the fleeing suspect, but missed. Officer Keyes then collapsed on
the hood of a passing motorist who witnessed the incident. The witness drove
Officer Keyes to the hospital where the officer died 8 days later from pneumonia,
a resulting complication of the shooting. One was subsequently arrested as he
stepped off a train in Plattsburgh, New York and charged with murder. The co-defendant,
a 13 year old, was later arrested and charged with Juvenile Delinquency.

Officer Keys had been with the agency for 11 years and was survived by his daughter.

Constable Darius Quimby - Albany County Constable's Office

End of Watch: Monday, January 3, 1791

Constable Darius Quimby was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man on a trespassing warrant. The suspect was found guilty of murdering Constable Quimby in the July session of the New York State Supreme Court and was hanged on August 26, 1791.

Constable Quimby is the first known law enforcement officer to be killed in the line of duty in the United States.